SNOW COMPLICATES CORN HARVEST
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 -- 11:26 AM
Farmers who have struggled to harvest their corn this fall are scrambling this week.Only about 50% of the area?s corn has been harvested, according to Clark County UW-Extension Crops and Soils Agent Richard Halopka.
The snow fall could hamper those efforts, and will likely lead to greater than expected field losses. He says the snow itself could make it difficult to get into the fields, but the wind could be an even bigger problem. The corn plants have been dead since September, so their not structurally very sound.
Typically, farmers expect about a 5-10% field loss; this year, they could be looking at a loss closer to 15-20%.
Farmers he?s talked to say they?re still two to three full days away from having all the corn off the fields.
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